Bicycle wheel

ABSTRACT

A bicycle wheel, in particular for racing and mountain bicycles, is provided which comprises a hub and a rim connected with by means of a plurality of radial elements. The radial elements are grouped in a first distribution, in which said elements are arranged on one side of the wheel, and a second distribution, in which said elements are arranged on the other side of the wheel, said first and second distribution connecting said rim to respective ends of said hub. The radial elements of said first distribution are connected to said rim in respective fixing seats which are disposed alternate, along said rim, to the fixing seats of the radial elements of said second distribution.

The present invention relates to a bicycle wheel, particularly forracing and mountain bicycles.

In the field of bicycle manufacturing, particularly racing bicycles andbicycles for excursions on rough and mountain terrain, wheels are knownin which the hub is connected to the rim by virtue of a plurality ofwire spokes, having various shapes and dimensions, and variouslyarranged.

Along the rim of such wheels is provided a regular distribution offixing elements to the wire spokes, for instance nipples, which aremutually angularly equidistant by a preset angle. In conventional wheelsthese nipples are coupled alternatively to the first or to the secondhub flange, so that the wire spokes cross each other regularly.

Nevertheless, wheels are recently been provided which are monolithicallyformed by pressure die-casting, and in which the hub and the rim aremanufactured in a single body and are connected by virtue of adistribution of radial elements, for instance spokes or arms havingvarious profiles and cross sections. Wire spoke wheels and monolithicwheels have different functional characteristics (rigidity, mechanicalstrength, life time, streamline), which direct users' choice accordingto their necessities, preferences and needs. As a matter of fact, wirespokes wheels can offer the great advantage of low weight, but can'thave the same performances of monolithic wheels in terms of rigidity,mechanical strength and streamline.

The present invention aims to provide a wheel, in particular for racingand mountain bicycle, which allows to obtain the typical mechanical anddynamical behavior of monolithic wheels combined with a low weight.

This aim is achieved by the present bicycle wheel, particularly forracing and mountain bicycle, which comprises a hub and a rim connectedtherewith by means of a plurality of radial elements, wherein saidradial elements are grouped in a first distribution, in which saidelements are arranged on one side of the wheel, and a seconddistribution, in which said elements are arranged on the other side ofthe wheel, said first and second distribution being designed to connectsaid rim to a respective end of said hub, the radial elements of saidfirst distribution being fixed to said rim at respective fixing seatswhich are disposed alternate to the fixing seats of the radial elementsof said second distribution along said rim

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in thesub-claims.

The present invention provides a versatile wheel, suitable for differentneeds and designs as to mechanical and appearance features. The presentinvention also achieves a wheel being simple, relatively easy to providein practice, safe in use, effective in operation and relatively modestin cost.

A preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a bicycle wheel,particularly for racing and mountain bicycle, will now be describedwhich is illustrated only by way of non limiting example in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a lateral elevation view of the wheel according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a diagonal sectional view of the wheel;

FIG. 3 is a detailed lateral elevation view of the wheel;

FIG. 4 is a lateral elevation view of an embodiment of the wheel;

FIG. 5, 6, 7 are lateral elevation views of respective embodiments ofthe wheel, having different number of radial elements;

FIG. 8 is a lateral elevation view of a first alternative embodiment ofthe wheel;

FIG. 8 a is a lateral elevation view of a different embodiment of thewheel of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9, 10, 11 are lateral elevation views of different embodiments ofthe wheel of FIG. 8, having different number of radial elements;

FIG. 12 is a lateral elevation view of a second alternative embodimentof the wheel;

FIG. 13 is a further embodiment of the wheel of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a lateral elevation view of a third alternative embodiment ofthe wheel;

FIG. 15, 16, 17 are lateral elevation views of different embodiments ofthe wheel of FIG. 14, having different number of radial elements.

With particular reference to the Figures cited above, the referencenumeral 1 generally designates a bicycle wheel particularly for a racingand mountain bicycle according to the invention.

The wheel comprises a hub 2 and a rim 3 which are coaxial and connectedby means of a plurality of radial elements 4. As shown in FIG. 2, thehub 2 has two opposite ends where a first disc-shaped flange 5 and asecond disc-shaped flange 6 are provided, respectively. The radialelements 4 engage the disc-shaped flanges 5,6.

According to the invention, the radial elements 4 are grouped in a firstdistribution 7 on one side of the wheel and in a second distribution 8on the other side of the wheel. The first distribution 7 and the seconddistribution 8 are arranged in such a way to connect, respectively, thefirst and the second flanges 5, 6 of the hub 2 to the rim 3.

Each of the radial elements 4 of the first distribution 7 is constitutedby a first wire spoke 9 and a second wire spoke 10, having respectiveproximal terminal portions 9 a, 10 a engaged to the first flange 5 ofthe hub 2, and respective distal terminal portions 9 b, 10 b, engaged inrespective couples of contiguous fixing seats 14 of the rim 3.

Each of the radial elements 4 of the second distribution 8 isconstituted correspondingly by a first wire spoke 9′ and a second wirespoke 10′, having respective proximal terminal portions 9 a′, 10 a′engaged to the second flange 6 of the hub 2, and respective distalterminal portions 9 b′, 10 b′ engaged in respective couples ofcontiguous fixing seats 14′ of the rim 3.

The spokes of one radial element 4 are, by definition, spokes connectedto one and the same flange 5 or 6. In other words, if one spoke, forexample spoke 9, of one radial element 4 is connected to flange 5, theother spoke 10 of this radial element may not originate from the otherflange 6.

Each wire spoke 9, 9′, 10, 10′ has, in their terminal portions 9 a, 9a′, 10 a, 10 a′ a head 11 which engage in a respective holes 12 providedin the first and second flanges 5, 6 of the hub 2. Preferably, theseheads 11 are connected alternatively to internal and the externalsurface of the flange 5, 6, for a better balance of the wheel.

The radial elements 4 of the first distribution 7 and the radialelements 4 of the second distribution 8 are, preferably, mutuallyangularly equidistant by a first preset angle α In FIG. 1, 2, 3 each ofthe first and the second distribution 7, 8 have for instance six radialelements 4 which means that the first preset angle α is 60°.

The radial elements 4 of the first distribution 7 are offset respect tothe radial elements 4 of the second distribution 8 by a second presetangle β; preferably this second preset angle β is half of the firstpreset angle α, so the fixing seats to the rim 3 of the first and thesecond distribution 7,8 are regularly alternate along the internal sideof the rim. The second preset angle β may assume different valuesdepending on the needs.

The respective fixing seats 14, 14′ are mutually alternately arrangedalong the rim. The mutual distance between the seats 14 or 14′ of oneradial element 4 may assume different values as will be explained withrespect to the embodiments below. The pairs of seats 14 or 14′ arearranged mutually angularly equidistant along the rim 3 by the secondpreset angle β. The fixing seats 14, 14′ may comprise nipples , rigidlycoupled to the internal side of the rim 3 and protruding radiallytowards the wheel axis, to connect the radial elements or the wirespokes 9,10; 9′, 10′, respectively, of the first and seconddistributions 7, 8 respectively to the first and the second flanges 5, 6of the hub 2. Each nipple may have an internal thread into whichterminal threaded portions 9 b, 9 b′, 10, 10 b′ of the spokes 9, 9′, 10,10′ engage.

The arrangement of the first and second distributions 7, 8 of radialelements 4 is meant to simulate the dynamical behavior of the arms of amonolithic wheel. However, the distance between the seats of a pair ofspokes and the distance between the seats of different pairs of spokesmay be varied to achieve various design or appearance effects whilekeeping the mechanical stability of the wheel. The distributions 7, 8 ofspokes 9, 9′, 10, 10′ on both sides of the wheel connected to the rim bycouples of nipples in the seats 14 are mutually alternating whichconfers the dynamical behavior of a monolithic wheel to the wheelaccording to the invention in terms of rigidity and mechanical strength;at the same time the wheel has a low weight.

In use, the behavior of radial elements 4 comprising pairs of spokes 9,10, functionally simulates the properties of the spokes typicallyprovided in monolithic-type wheels as long as the forces exerted by thespokes to the rim are balanced within the distributions of the radialelements (on one side each of the wheel) and between the twodistributions of the radial elements (from one side to the other).Moreover, radial elements providing the same characteristics as obtainedin monolithic wheels are obtained through more economic processes andrequire a lower amount of material.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first and the second wire spoke 9, 10 of eachradial element 4 are coupled to their fixing seats so that they crosseach other, and they are in mutual contact with each other at crossingpoints 13.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 showing a wheel having six radialelements 4 for each distribution 7, 8, twelve holes 12 are, forinstance, arranged along the periphery of each flange 5, 6 and aremutually angularly equidistant. The wire spokes 9, 10 of a radialelement 4 are anchored in holes 12 which are five holes apart as can beseen in FIG. 3. Of the seats for one pair of spokes 9, 10 of a radialelement 4, the seat of the spoke 9 in the rim is, in the runningdirection R of the wheel, behind the seat of the spoke 10 in the rim,and the anchoring hole of the spoke 9 in the flange of the hub is, inthe running direction R of the wheel, in front of the anchoring hole ofthe spoke 10 in the flange of the hub. Therefore, the spokes 9, 10 crosson their way from the flanges 5,6 to the rim 2. In general, for wheelshaving a high number of radial elements, the spokes 9, 10 are engaged inthe holes 12 so that the first spoke 9 of each odd element 4 (first,third, fifth) cross with the second spoke 10 of the odd elementimmediately preceding; in the same way, the first spoke 9 of each evenelement 4 (second, fourth, sixth) cross with the second spoke 10 of theeven element immediately preceding.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment where the distance between the seats of apair of spokes 9, 10 forming a radial element 4 is relatively largewhich give the wheel a distictly different appearance. The wheel againhas six radial elements 4 for each distribution 7, 8, and twelve holes12 are, for instance, arranged along the periphery of each flange 5, 6and are mutually angularly equidistant. The wire spokes 9, 10 of aradial element 4 are anchored in holes 12 which are three holes apart ascan be seen in FIG. 4. Of the seats for one pair of spokes 9, 10 of aradial element 4, the seat of the spoke 9 in the rim is, in the runningdirection R of the wheel, behind the seat of the spoke 10 in the rim,and the anchoring hole of the spoke 9 in the flange of the hub is, inthe running direction R of the wheel, in front of the anchoring hole ofthe spoke 10 in the flange of the hub. Therefore, the spokes 9, 10 crosson their way from the flanges 5,6 to the rim 2.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 shown further embodiments of the wheel according to the.invention. These embodiments have different numbers of radial elements 4for each distribution 7, 8. The embodiment of FIG. 5 has three radialelements (uniformly angularly spaced from each other through a firstangle α of 120 degrees) for each distribution; the embodiment of FIG. 6is provided with four radial elements angularly spaced apart through aright angle for each distribution. In the embodiment of FIG. 7 the wheelhas five radial elements for each distribution.

In FIG. 8 a first alternative embodiment of the wheel is shown, in whichthe wheel is provided with six radial elements 4 in each distribution 7,8 and in which the first and the second spoke 9, 10 of each element areslightly convergent toward the seats 14. The wheel again has six radialelements 4 for each distribution 7, 8, and twelve holes 12 are, forinstance, arranged along the periphery of each flange 5, 6 and aremutually angularly equidistant. The wire spokes 9, 10 of a radialelement 4 are anchored in holes 12 which are five holes apart as can beseen in FIG. 8. Of the seats 14 for one pair of spokes 9, 10 of a radialelement 4, the seat of the spoke 9 in the rim is, in the runningdirection R of the wheel, behind the seat of the spoke 10 in the rim,and the anchoring hole of the spoke 9 in the flange of the hub is, inthe running direction R of the wheel, also behind the anchoring hole ofthe spoke 10 in the flange of the hub. Therefore, the spokes 9, 10 donot cross on their way from the flanges 5,6 to the rim 2.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8 a, the first and the second spokes 9, 10 ofa radial element 4 are slightly divergent. The wheel again has sixradial elements 4 for each distribution 7, 8, and twelve holes 12 arearranged along the periphery of each flange 5, 6 and are mutuallyangularly equidistant. The wire spokes 9, 10 of a radial element 4 areanchored in holes 12 which are five holes apart as can be seen in FIG. 8a. Of the seats 14 for one pair of spokes 9, 10 of a radial element 4,the seat of the spoke 9 in the rim is, in the running direction R of thewheel, behind the seat of the spoke 10 in the rim, and the anchoringhole of the spoke 9 in the flange of the hub is, in the runningdirection R of the wheel, also behind the anchoring hole of the spoke 10in the flange of the hub. Therefore, the spokes 9, 10 of one radialelement 4 do not cross on their way from the flanges 5,6 to the rim 2.However, due to the spread or divergent arrangement of the spokes 9, 10of one radial element 4, the appearance of the wheel as viewed from theside is similar to the appearance of the wheel of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 9, 10, 11 show further embodiments of the wheel of FIG. 8. Inthese embodiments the wheel is provided respectively with three (FIG.9), four (FIG. 10) and five (FIG. 11) radial elements for eachdistribution 7, 8.

FIG. 12 shows a second alternative embodiment of the wheel, with sixradial elements 4 for each distribution 7, 8 and with spokes 9, 10slightly convergent. This wheel is provided with a hub with flanges 5, 6having an lager diameter. The spokes are engaged in the holes 12 in sucha way that, for each distribution 7, 8 of radial elements 4, a simplecrossing of the first spoke 9 of each element is obtained close to theflanges 5, 6 with the second spoke 10 of an element immediately adjacentthereto. The number of radial elements provided in the wheel of FIG. 12,may be varied.

The wheel of FIG. 12 has six radial elements 4 for each distribution 7,8, and twelve holes 12 are arranged along the periphery of each flange5, 6 and are mutually angularly equidistant The wire spokes 9, 10 of aradial element 4 are anchored in holes 12 which are three holes apart,as can be seen in FIG. 12. Of the seats 14 for one pair of spokes 9, 10of a radial element 4, the seat of the spoke 9 in the rim is, in therunning direction R of the wheel, behind the seat of the spoke 10 in therim,. and the anchoring hole of the spoke 9 in the flange of the hub is,in the running direction R of the wheel, also behind the anchoring holeof the spoke 10 in the flange of the hub. Therefore, the spokes 9, 10 ofone radial element 4 do not cross on their way from the flanges 5,6 tothe rim 2.

The embodiment of FIG. 13 shows that, as mentioned above, the secondpredetermined angle β can be different from half of the first presetangle β. In the illustrated embodiment the second preset angle β is lessthan half the first preset angle α.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 8-13 the first and the second spoke 9,10 of each radial elements 4 may be substantially parallel, and held inposition by anchoring seats 14 (nipples) arranged no longer in pairs butsubstantially uniformly angularly spaced from each other, while stillachieving the same technical effect.

FIG. 14 shows a third alternative embodiment of the wheel, in which eachradial element 4 of each distribution 7, 8 presents substantially aY-shaped conformation, with an end 15, 15′ engaging in the flanges 5 or6 (for instance with a head 11) and two segments 16, 16′ having threadedterminal portions engaging in respective seats 14, 14′. FIGS. 15, 16, 17show respective embodiments of the wheel of FIG. 14, with three, fourand five radial elements for each distribution. The third alternativeembodiment of the above described wheel (FIGS. 14, 15, 16, 17) has adecisively lower weight as compared to the previous embodiments, and aquite high stiffness.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modificationsand variations within the scope of the invention. Thus, it should benoted that the spokes 9, 10 in the above described embodiments can haveany desired shape, dimensions, and geometry. In practice, the materialsused in the wheel, as well as the shapes and the dimensions, may be anyaccording to the requirements. In the examples of embodiment above,individual features, presented in relation to specific examples, mayactually be interchanged with features that exist in other embodiments.

1. Bicycle wheel, in particular for racing and mountain bicycles, whichcomprises a hub and a rim connected with by means of a plurality ofradial elements, wherein said radial elements are grouped in a firstdistribution, in which said elements are arranged on one side of thewheel, and a second distribution, in which said elements are arranged onthe other side of the wheel, said first and second distributionconnecting said rim to respective ends of said hub, the radial elementsof said first distribution being connected to said rim in respectivefixing seats which are disposed alternate to the fixing seats of theradial elements of said second distribution along said rim.
 2. The wheelaccording to claim 1, wherein the radial elements of said firstdistribution and the radial elements of said second distribution aremutually angularly equidistant on each side of a wheel, by a firstpreset angle α, and wherein the elements of said first distributionbeing offset by a second preset angle β with respect to said firstdistribution.
 3. The wheel according to claim 2, wherein said secondpreset angle β is half of said first preset angle α.
 4. The wheelaccording to claim 1, wherein each of said radial elements isconstituted by a first and a second wire spoke having respectiveterminal proximal portions connected to said hub and respective terminaldistal portions connected to said rim in respective pairs of said fixingseats.
 5. The wheel according to claim 4, wherein first and second spokeof one radial element cross each other.
 6. The wheel according to claim4, wherein said first and second spoke of one radial element areslightly convergent toward said couple of fixing seats.
 7. The wheelaccording to claim 4, wherein said first and second spoke of one radialelement are substantially parallel.
 8. The wheel according to claim 4,wherein said first and second spoke of one radial element are slightlydivergent toward said couple of fixing seats.
 9. The wheel according toclaim 1, wherein each of said radial elements is substantially Y-shaped,having an end engaged in said hub and two segments that are divergentand connected with respective couples of said fixing seats.
 10. Thewheel according to claim 1, wherein said fixing seats are constituted bynipples rigidly coupled to said rim and having an internal thread inwhich engage said spokes.
 11. The wheel according to claim 2, whereineach of said radial elements is constituted by a first and a second wirespoke having respective terminal proximal portions connected to said huband respective terminal distal portions connected to said rim inrespective pairs of said fixing seats.
 12. The wheel according to claim3, wherein each of said radial elements is constituted by a first and asecond wire spoke having respective terminal proximal portions connectedto said hub and respective terminal distal portions connected to saidrim in respective pairs of said fixing seats.
 13. The wheel according toclaim 11, wherein first and second spoke of one radial element crosseach other.
 14. The wheel according to claim 12, wherein first andsecond spoke of one radial element cross each other.
 15. The wheelaccording to claim 11, wherein said first and second spoke of one radialelement are slightly convergent toward said couple of fixing seats. 16.The wheel according to claim 12, wherein said first and second spoke ofone radial element are slightly convergent toward said couple of fixingseats.
 17. The wheel according to claim 11, wherein said first andsecond spoke of one radial element are substantially parallel.
 18. Thewheel according to claim 12, wherein said first and second spoke of oneradial element are substantially parallel.
 19. The wheel according toclaim 11, wherein said first and second spoke of one radial element areslightly divergent toward said couple of fixing seats.
 20. The wheelaccording to claim 12, wherein said first and second spoke of one radialelement are slightly divergent toward said couple of fixing seats.